The Green Mummy - Page 183/191

"Never mind," said the girl, kissing her father; "when Frank and I are

married we will come to Callao in his yacht."

"Our yacht," said Random, smiling.

"Our yacht," repeated Donna Inez. "And then you will see, father, that I

have become a real English lady."

"But don't entirely forget that you are a Peruvian," said Don Pedro

playfully.

"And a descendant of Inca Caxas," added Donna Inez. Then she flirted her

fan, which she was rarely without, and laughed in her English lover's

face. "Don't forget, senor, that you marry a princess."

"I marry the most charming girl in the world," he replied, catching her

in his arms, rather to the scandal of De Gayangos, who had stiff Spanish

notions regarding the etiquette of engaged couples.

"There is one thing you must do for me, senor," he said quietly, "before

we leave this most unhappy case of murder and theft for ever."

"What is that?" asked Sir Frank, turning with Inez in his arms.

"To-night at eight o'clock, Captain Hervey--the sailor Gustav Vasa, if

you prefer the name--steams down the river in his new boat The Firefly.

I received a note from him"--he displayed a letter--"stating that he

will pass the jetty of Gartley at that hour, and will burn a blue light.

If I fire a pistol, he will send off a boat with a full account of the

theft of the mummy of Inca Caxas, written by himself. Then I will hand

his messenger fifty gold sovereigns, which I have here," added Don

Pedro, pointing to a canvas bag on the table, "and we will return. I

wish you to go with me, senor, and also I wish your friend Mr. Hope to

come."

"Do you anticipate treachery from Captain Hervey?" asked Random.

"I should not be surprised if he tried to trick me in some way, and I

wish you and your friend to stand by me. Were this man alone, I would go

alone, but he will have a boat's crew with him. It is best to be safe."

"I agree with you," said Random quickly. "Hope and I will come, and we

will take revolvers with us. It doesn't do to trust this blackguard. Ho!

ho! I wonder if he knows of the Professor's flight."

"No. Considering the terms upon which the Professor stood with Hervey,

I should think he would be the last person he would trust. I wonder what

has become of the man."

More people than Don Pedro wondered as to the whereabouts of Braddock

and his servant, for everyone was inquiring and hunting. The marshes

round the cottage were explored: the great house itself was searched, as

well as many cottages in the village, and inquiries were made at all the

local stations. But all in vain. Braddock and Cockatoo, along with the

cumbersome mummy in its case, had vanished as completely as though the

earth had swallowed them up. Inspector Date's idea was that the pair had

taken the mummy to Gartley Pier, after the search made by the soldiers,

and there had launched the boat, which Cockatoo--judging from his visit

to Pierside--apparently kept hidden in some nook. It was probable, said

Date, the two had rowed down the river, and had managed to get on board

some outward-bound tramp. They could easily furbish up some story, and

as Braddock doubtless had money, could easily buy a passage for a large

sum. The tramp being outward-bound, her captain and crew would know

nothing of the crime, and even if the fugitives were suspected, they

would be shipped out of England if the bribe was sufficiently large.

So it was apparent that Inspector Date had not much opinion of

tramp-steamer skippers.